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Conservation area · 2026-27
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area hunting guide
What MDC publishes about this conservation area in Crawford County, in one page.
Photo: Richard Ricciardi (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: acres, manager and game
The record gives John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area 341 acres in Crawford County. Of 6 conservation areas in Crawford County, John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area is number 4 by acreage. It belongs to the Meramec management district, MDC St. Louis Region.
Other uses MDC lists for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: trapping (special use permit).
From the MDC area description: This area was opened to the public in March 2007. The terrain is relatively flat and covered in mixed oak and hickory. Old vineyards have grown up into thickets of Eastern Red Cedar. Current management is aimed at improving the plant and animal diversity in the old field and upland habitats and improving small game hunting opportunities.
Game species: Deer, Black bear, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel.
From the agency record (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area
Neighbors of John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area on the map
Count on Pearl G. and John J. Sizemore Memorial Conservation Area as the first fallback, 1.6 mi southeast of John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area.
| Public land | Type | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl G. and John J. Sizemore Memorial CA | Conservation area | 180 | Crawford | 1.6 mi | southeast |
| Keysville Towersite | Towersite | 80 | Crawford | 3.3 mi | southwest |
| Crooked Creek CA | Conservation area | 337 | Crawford | 6.9 mi | southwest |
| Huzzah CA | Conservation area | 6,225 | Crawford | 10 mi | northeast |
| Woodson K. Woods Memorial CA | Conservation area | 5,738 | Crawford, Phelps | 12 mi | west |
| Short Bend Access | Public access area | 87 | Dent | 13 mi | southwest |
| Indian Trail CA | Conservation area | 13,503 | Dent | 14 mi | south |
| Blue Springs Creek CA | Conservation area | 907 | Crawford | 15 mi | northeast |
Points: MDC Conservation Area Centroids layer (https://gisblue.mdc.mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Discover_Nature/MDC_Administrative_Areas/FeatureServer/4). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area hunting methods
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area follows statewide seasons with the area limits shown here.
| Game | Methods | Note |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Archery only | Allowed |
| Wild Turkey | Archery and firearms | – |
| Black Bear | Archery and firearms | Zone permit |
| Eastern Cottontail | Statewide methods | – |
| Gray Squirrel | Statewide methods | – |
Deer on John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: archery methods only, and antlerless permits may be used. Turkey hunters may use archery and firearms here. Bear hunting is listed on John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area (archery and firearms) for permit holders in the right management zone. John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area shows code A in the booklet, antlerless permits allowed. The deer hunting quick view is the list that counts for MDC areas, and John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area appears on it.
Sources: area page, area regulations, deer quick view; booklet table: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, pp. 42-55. Checked October 29, 2026.
Calendar of hunts for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area gets 9 dated rows once the Crawford County calendar is trimmed to its game list.
| Game | Segment | Where | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 3 | Bear zone 3 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Open county | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 |
Only archery deer dates apply on John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area; firearms portions are not listed. Rabbits may be hunted sunrise to sunset; trapping seasons are on the species pages.
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation); checked October 29, 2026. All Missouri seasons.
Which county rules govern John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area
| Rule | Crawford County |
|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless limit | 4 deer |
| Antlerless portions | Open |
| CWD sampling Nov. 14-15 | No |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes |
| Share the Harvest CWD test | Required |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open |
| Dogs, November portion | No rule |
| Elk county | No |
| Bear zone | Zone 2, Zone 3 |
| Duck zone | Middle |
Missouri sets deer rules county by county, so John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area follows Crawford County: up to 4 antlerless deer on firearms permits. Crawford County opens for both antlerless portions this year. Crawford County is one of 85 counties with the year-round feed and mineral ban. Bear Management Zone 2 covers Crawford County: 750 permits and a 22-bear quota for Oct. 17-30. MDC retired the CWD portion, its management zone and the antler-point restriction for 2026.
2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county rules, MDC CWD rules and 2026 bear digest; checked October 29, 2026.
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area town and service list
Steelville lies closest, about 4.6 mi as the crow flies. Salem counts 4,726 residents, more than any other town listed. How MDC says to drive in: From Steelville, take Highway 19 south 2 miles, then Valleyside Road east 1 mile to the parking lot. Need MDC staff? Meramec Workstation Field Office in Sullivan is 24 mi out.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelville | Crawford | 1,445 | 4.6 mi | northwest |
| Leasburg | Crawford | 318 | 12 mi | north |
| Viburnum | Iron | 658 | 17 mi | southeast |
| St. James | Phelps | 3,932 | 18 mi | west |
| Salem | Dent | 4,726 | 23 mi | southwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024); offices and businesses from services.json (MDC offices and business listings, chain stores and permit vendors left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 29, 2026.
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: deer, turkey and CWD by year
County figures, the smallest unit MDC publishes.
The county total for 2025 was 3,667 deer (1,805 antlered bucks), the closest MDC figure for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area. 64 public-land birds out of 474 in spring 2026, Crawford County. 9 positive deers in Crawford County in the sample years shown; CWD was first found there in 2018-2019.
| Permit year | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,805 | 296 | 1,566 | 3,667 |
| 2024 | 1,492 | 333 | 1,257 | 3,082 |
| 2023 | 1,949 | 457 | 2,000 | 4,406 |
| 2022 | 1,633 | 379 | 1,489 | 3,501 |
| 2021 | 1,887 | 444 | 1,680 | 4,011 |
| 2020 | 1,510 | 422 | 1,449 | 3,381 |
| Year | Spring harvest | Public land share | Youth weekend | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 474 | 64 | 54 | – | – |
| 2025 | 687 | 127 | 61 | 47 | 19 |
| 2024 | 565 | 96 | 28 | 36 | 14 |
| 2023 | 635 | 120 | 27 | 82 | 46 |
| 2022 | 417 | – | 30 | 43 | 29 |
| 2021 | 499 | – | 47 | 49 | 54 |
| Season | Tested | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 0 |
| 2025 | 106 | 1 |
| 2024 | 830 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1,108 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1,115 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1,019 | 0 |
MDC 2025 deer harvest summary, MDC turkey harvest summaries and MDC CWD dashboard; earlier years from the yearly reports. Checked October 29, 2026.
First and last shooting light in John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area
The times below start from the MDC Jefferson City table and subtract 3 minutes for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area, as the booklet directs.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 7:02 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:39 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:47 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:22 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:22 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
Hours rule and the Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table from the MDC Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest (same table in the Fall Deer and Turkey booklet), adjusted 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west as MDC directs; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Missouri scenes for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area
Before John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area: public and club ranges
From John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area, Huzzah CA range is the nearest MDC or other public range (10 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the other cards.
From MDC area pages and the MDC Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area questions with sourced answers
How large an area is John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
Roughly 341 acres, looked after by Missouri Department of Conservation.
What paperwork covers a hunt at John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
Buy the matching Missouri permit (Missouri calls them permits); waterfowl also need the federal duck stamp.
Is John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area open for hunting this season?
Yes. MDC lists deer, black bear, turkey, rabbit and squirrel on John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area, and it is on the deer list.
Is John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area archery only for deer?
Plan on archery methods only. Antlerless permits are allowed.
What is the antlerless limit for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
Crawford County sets a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4, and its antlerless portions are open.
Does the feed ban cover John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
For Crawford County, sampling is not required and the feed ban applies.
What turkey rules apply on John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
Turkey methods: archery and firearms. Fall firearms turkey (Oct. 1-31) is open in Crawford County.
Which bear permits work at John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
The county is BMZ 2; bear is listed for the area.
How long is the legal day at John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area in mid-November?
From 6:17 a.m. until 5:23 p.m. on Nov. 14, by the MDC table with the longitude correction.
Closest public alternatives to John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
The three nearest: Pearl G. and John J. Sizemore Memorial Conservation Area (1.6 mi), Keysville Towersite (3.3 mi) and Crooked Creek Conservation Area (6.9 mi).
Where do I buy gas near John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
About 4.6 mi to Steelville.
Leaving for John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area?
Missouri sells permits, not licenses: buy the right one before you hunt John N. and Melba S. Anderson Memorial Conservation Area, and wear hunter orange in the firearms portions.
Sources: source · source · source · source; regulations from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Richard Ricciardi (CC BY 2.0); Dave Herholz (CC BY-SA 2.0); Robert Engberg (CC BY 2.0).